Industry News

Sam Doak Retires

Sam Doak’s time at Virginia Tech began under two former professors when Dr. Schmidt provided him the opportunity to work at the Turfgrass Research Center before he was accepted at VT; then Dr. Chalmers was key in establishing a graduate student assistantship with the VT Athletics department, of which Sam was the inaugural recipient in 1994. Of his time studying at VT, Sam says, “My work with the athletic department in helping prepare and maintain the fields was the highlight of my graduate student days.”

Following graduation, Sam worked several sales/agronomist positions before returning to VT to work as a research associate on a VDOT contract under Dr. Erik Ervin. While working as a research associate, he was asked to teach the introductory turfgrass management class for the Agricultural Technology (AT) program in fall of 2000; and he added the soils class about a year later in the spring. Sam gained his full-time teaching position in the AT program in 2005.

“It has been equally rewarding to integrate the field practicum classes in the AT program where our students work alongside the VT athletics grounds crew, gaining practical knowledge through experiential learning in helping maintain the world class athletic fields,” he says.

“The comradery, support, friendships — professional and personal-from the AT faculty and staff are the true highlights of my time with VT. To have worked with a group of friends of such uniformly high ideals, dedication, compassion and concern has truly been an honor, privilege, and a blessing.

“All this would not have been possible without the love and support of my better half — Janet and help from the Good Lord above. Janet managed the young family as I went to grad school and worked my assistantship along with 2–3 other jobs to help pay the bills. She was the rock as I worked several sales jobs after graduation that kept me away from home a large portion of the time. Now we are looking forward to having more time for family, trips, activities, hobbies and occasional turfgrass-related teaching in Florida!”